Centrifugal Model Study Of The Failure Mechanism Of Geocell Flexible Retaining Wall

Due to its advantages of light structure, simple construction, low cost, ecologicalprotection and landscape beautification, the geocell flexible retaining wall, as a new type ofretaining structure, has a broad application prospect in the road slope protection. Flexuraldeformation will take place for the flexible retaining wall under the effect of earth pressures.Therefore, the working mechanism and the failure mode of the geocell flexible retaining walldiffer significantly from those of rigid retaining wall. The geocell flexible retaining wall hasalready been applied in the engineering practices. However, its failure mechanism underdifferent working conditions is still not very clear. And the lag in the theorectical research hasprevented its advantages from full play. Therefore, it is of vital importance to study its failuremechanism under different working conditions.In this paper, the model of geocell flexible retaining wall is made and a series ofcentrifuge model tests are conducted to investigate its failure mechanism. On the basis of theanalysis of the test results, the effect of such factors as the height-width ratio, slope gradient,surcharge, subsection and the reinforcement on the failure mode of the geocell flexibleretaining wall is studied and discussed. In addition, the deformation and failure modes of thewall under different working conditions are also studied by the method of numerical analysis.The research results are referable for the engineering practices and scientific research.